Dispenser device

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a user with a simple means to manually or electronically cool or warm up a liquid in a container. The user is able to pump air into the container holding the liquid to force the air into a holding well where the user can treat a small amount of fluid by cooling it or heating it up to quickly treat this liquid. By treating small amounts of liquid the user can quickly and more readily cool or heat the liquid, then enjoy the liquid without being mistakenly burned or otherwise injured by the liquid.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a dispenser device that enables a user totreat a liquid in the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People use containers every day to carry their lunches, snacks anddrinks. Typically people use containers such as cups, mugs or a thermosto carry liquids, such as soft drinks, water or coffee. These cups, mugsor thermoses usually keeps the liquid cool or keeps it warm depending onthe type of container utilized. The mugs or thermoses may be referred toas closeable drinking containers.

Specifically, closeable drinking containers having a handle or without ahandle are utilized to keep liquids cold or warm. Even though thesecloseable drinking containers are known to keep the entire liquid coldor warm they do not allow a person to evenly cool or warm a portion ofthe liquid before the person drinks it. Since a person is not able tosufficiently warm or cool a small amount of liquid before he drinks it,the person may burn his tongue or injure himself when he makes initialcontact with the liquid.

Therefore, there is need for a dispenser device that allows a user tocool or heat a small portion of liquid in a container without injuringhimself.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished in view of theabove-mentioned technical background, and it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a person with a simple method to cool or heatliquid in a container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a system for a utilizing aliquid cup cool system is disclosed. The system includes an outerhousing defining a chamber for holding an inner housing configured tostore liquid. The inner housing includes a first opening configured toreceive air transferred into the inner housing. A second opening of theinner housing is configured to allow the liquid in the inner housing tobe transferred from the inner housing into a holding well responsive tothe air transferred into the inner housing. The holding well isconfigured to hold the liquid while the liquid is being treated.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a cool systemapparatus is disclosed which includes an inner housing. The innerhousing is configured to hold a liquid. The inner housing includes: afirst opening configured to receive air transferred into the innerhousing; a second opening is configured to allow the liquid in the innerhousing to be transferred from the inner housing into a holding wellresponsive to the air transferred into the inner housing. The holdingwell is configured to hold the liquid while the liquid is being treated.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a cover is disclosedwhere an air transfer mechanism configured to transfer air. An airtransfer hose is coupled to the air transfer mechanism where the airtransfer house is configured to transfer the air from the air transfermechanism into a container having a liquid. A liquid transfer hose islocated inside the container, where the liquid transfer hose isconfigured to transfer the liquid from the container to a holding wellin response to the air being transferred into the container. The holdingwell is configured to treat the liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent as the following description is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a cup cooling system in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a portable cover cooling system inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A depict a top view of the cover for the cup cooling system ofFIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B depicts a top view of the portable cover cooling system of FIG.2 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the side view of the portable cover of FIG. 2 with acontainer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart that depicts a method of how the cup coolingsystem of FIG. 1 is employed in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart that depicts a method of how the portable covercooling system of FIG. 4 is employed in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The presently preferred embodiments of the invention are described withreferences to the drawings, where like components are identified withthe same numerals. The descriptions of the preferred embodiments areexemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the side view of the cup cooling system. The cupcooling system 100 includes: an outer housing 101, an inner housing 103,an air transfer mechanism 105, an outer housing opening 107, an airtransfer hose 109, a first inner housing opening 111, a second innerhousing opening 113, a liquid transfer hose 115, a cover 117, a holdingwell 119 and a treating structure 121. The outer housing 111 is atypical container or cup utilized to house any typical liquid, such ascoffee or a soft drink. This outer housing 101 may also include a handle(not shown) to hold the outer housing or container 401 (FIG. 4) whiledrinking the liquid. Outer housing 101 and inner housing 103 and cover117 may be made of typical materials used for containers, such as glass,plastic, Styrofoam, paper or cardboard. This outer housing 101 includesa chamber 112 inside the inner housing 103, where the chamber 112 holdsa liquid. This inner housing 103 is a container that is air tight inthat it does not allow air to come in or escape when it is covered bythe cover 117 and the holding well 119.

The air transfer mechanism 105 is coupled to the outside housing 101.This air transfer mechanism 105 is a typical small air pump that is ableto receive air and transfer or pump air through the outer housingopening 107 through the air transfer house 109 and the first innerhousing opening 111 into chamber 112. This air transfer mechanism 105 orair pump is a typical small air pump utilized to pump air into in acontainer or device. The actual pumping of the air may be accomplishedby a person pressing the air transfer mechanism to transfer or pump airinto the inner housing 103 and chamber 112 or it may be accomplished bya typical electrical air pump that can be programmed to pump a certainamount of air into the inner housing 103 and chamber 112.

Next to the air transfer mechanism 105 is the air transfer hose 109,which is located in between the outer housing 101 and the inner housing103. Air transfer hose 109 acts as a conduit for air to be transferredfrom the pump 105 to the chamber 112 of the inner housing 103. The airtransfer hose 109 may be made of any flexible material, such as plastic,paper, cardboard or rubber, which is capable of transferring air fromone point to another. The chamber 112 of the inner housing 103 stores aliquid that is inserted and taken out of the chamber 112 when the cover117, holding well 119 and slideable flap 215, slideable flap 217 andslideable flap 219 are opened and closed. Chamber 112 is sealed airtight by an air tight seal 202 (FIG. 4) when it is covered by the cover117 and the holding well 119.

When air is transferred from air transfer mechanism 105 through the airtransfer hose 109 into the chamber 112; the liquid in the chamber 112 isforced out through the second inner housing opening 113. As the liquidis forced out of the chamber 112 through the second inner housingopening 113 the liquid is transferred through the liquid transfer hose115 into the holding well 119. The liquid transfer hose 115 is locatedin between the inner housing 103 and the outer housing 101. In anotherembodiment, the liquid transfer hose 115 may be located inside the innerhousing 103. This liquid transfer hose 115 is equivalent to air transferhose 109, which may be made of a flexible material, such as plastic,paper, cardboard or rubber. The holding well 119, which receives theliquid from the transfer hose 115, is located on a top portion of theinner housing 103 in between the chamber 112, inner housing 103 and thecover 117.

At this holding well 119, the liquid from the chamber 112 is held so itcan be treated. This liquid can be treated or managed in several ways.First, a person who has pumped the air into chamber 112 to force theliquid into the holding well 119 can open or take off the cover 117 ofthe cooling system 100 to blow on the liquid to cool it. For example,the person may open cover 117 by rotating knob 209 (FIG. 3) in aclockwise or counter-clockwise direction to expand or contract slideableflap 215, slideable flap 217 and slideable 219. In another embodiment ofthe invention, holding well 119 may include a treating structure 121.This treating structure 121 may be utilized to cool the liquid or it canbe utilized to heat the liquid. For example, the treating structure 121may include a typical refrigerator tray or a cooling area that cools theliquid in the holding well 119. On the other hand, the treatingstructure 121 may include a typical heating tray or heating area thatheats or warms the liquid in the holding well 119.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a portable cover. This portable cover200 may be utilized with any type of container or cup that has anopening capable of receiving a cover as in FIG. 4. This cover 200 isequivalent to cover 117, which may be made of glass, plastic, Styrofoam,paper or cardboard. The cover 200 includes a bottom portion 201 a,middle portion 201 b and a top portion 201 c. The middle portion 201 bincludes an air transfer mechanism 201, an air transfer hose 203, afirst cover opening 204, a liquid transfer hose 205 and a second coveropening 207. The air transfer mechanism 201 is attached or coupled tothe air transfer hose 203. The top portion 201 c includes a knob 209attached to slideable flap 215, slideable flap 217 and slideable flap219 (FIG. 3A). The bottom portion 201 a includes an air tight seal 202,a holding well 211 and a treating structure 213. Air transfer mechanism201 is equivalent to air transfer mechanism 105 described above so adescription will not be included herein. Air transfer hose 203 isequivalent to air transfer hose 107 described above so a descriptionwill not be recited herein. Liquid transfer hose 205 is similar toliquid transfer hose 115 also described so a description will not beincluded herein.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cover 200 is placed on a container 401 capableof receiving this cover. The container 401 is a typical containerequivalent to outer housing 103 described above, which includes aliquid. Air transfer mechanism 403 or air pump 403 is equivalent to theair pump 201 of FIG. 2, but in this embodiment the air pump 403 is ontop of cover 200 instead of being attached to the outer housing 101(FIG. 1). As the cover 200 is placed on the container 401, the air tightseal 202 seals the cover 200 onto the container preventing air fromcoming into or leaving the container 401. When the cover 200 is placedon the container 401 a person may manually press the air transfermechanism 403 to transfer air from the air transfer mechanism 403through the air transfer hose 203, the first cover opening 204, theliquid transfer hose 205 (located inside the container 401) and thesecond cover opening 207 (FIG. 3B) into the holding well 211. In anotherembodiment, the air transfer mechanism 401 may be a typical electricalair pump, which pumps air through the air transfer hose 203 and thefirst cover opening 204 into the container 401. When the air enters thecontainer 401 the liquid is forced through the liquid transfer hose 205into the holding well 211.

At this holding well 211, the liquid may be treated in several ways. Asstated above, a person who has pumped the air to force the liquid intothe holding well 211 can open the cover 200 by turning the knob 209.This knob 209 is mechanically connected to slideable flap 215, slideableflap 217 and slidable flap 219, which enables a person to turn the knob209 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to open the cover 200(FIG. 3A), which may be equivalent to cover 117. The slideable flap 215,slideable flap 217 and slideable 219 fold onto each other in ahorizontal fan like fashion so that as a person turns knob 209 in aclockwise or counter-clockwise direction the slideable flaps 215, 217and 219 are expanded so the person can close the cover 200 in order thatno liquid can leave the container 401. On the other hand, a person mayturn knob 209 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to retractslideable flap 215, slideable flap 217 and slideable flap 219 so theslideable flaps 215, 217 and 219 fold onto each other and the person canblow and drink the liquid in the holding well 211. The holding well 211may also include a treating structure 213. This treating structure 213is equivalent to the treating structure 121 described above so adescription is not disclosed.

FIG. 3A depicts a top view of a cover for the portable cover coolingsystem of FIG. 2. In this view of the cover 200, the knob 209, slideableflap 215, slideable flap 217 and slideable flap 219 are shown. Theslideable flaps 215, 217, 219 are placed above each other where they canfully expand to close the cover 200 or these slideable flaps 215, 217and 219 may be retracted to open the cover 200. Also, cover 200encapsulates the inner housing 103 and outer housing 101. Further, cover200 has a circular shape, but it can also have a typical cover shape,such as a rectangular shape or triangular shape used to cover acontainer. FIG. 3B illustrates the first cover opening 204 and thesecond cover opening 207 of cover 200.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart that depicts a method of how the cup coolingsystem is utilized. At block 501, a person utilizes the air transfermechanism 105 to pump air through the air transfer hose 107, firstopening 111 into the chamber 112 of the inner housing 103 (FIG. 1). Thischamber 112 includes a liquid, such as coffee, water, tea, soft drink orany type of beverage. In another embodiment, the air transfer mechanism105 may be a typical electrical air transfer mechanism 105 or electricalair pump. This air may be transferred or pumped by the air transfermechanism 105 into the chamber 112 by manually pressing air transfermechanism 105 or electronically pumping the air at any rate, such as arate of approximately 1 pounds square inch per second. In yet anotherembodiment of the invention, a person may tilt the cup cooling system100 by 30 to 50 degrees to force the liquid from the inner housing 103into the holding well 119 where it can be treated.

At block 503, as the air is transferred through the air transfer hose109 into the chamber 112 the air forces the liquid through the secondopening 113 of the inner housing 103. When the liquid leaves the chamber112 of the inner housing 103, this liquid, at block 505, travels throughthe liquid transfer hose 115 into the holding well 119. At block 507,the liquid at the holding well 119 will be treated in several ways.First, a person who has pumped the air to force the liquid into theholding well can open or take of the cover 117 off the cooling system100 to blow on the liquid to cool it. For example, the person may turnthe knob 209 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 2) toretract or expand slideable flap 215, slideable flap 217 and slideableflap 219 so the person can open cover 117 to show the liquid in theholding well 119, which the person can blow on to cool the liquid. Inanother embodiment of the invention, holding well 119 may include atreating structure 121 (FIG. 1). This treating structure 121 may beutilized to cool the liquid or it can be utilized to heat the liquid.For example, the treating structure 121 may include a typicalrefrigerator tray that cools the liquid in the holding well 119. On theother hand, the treating structure 121 may include a heating tray thatwarms the liquid in the holding well 119.

At block 509, the user determines if he wants to keep adding more liquidinto the holding well 119 to be treated as stated above. If the userdecides that he wants to keep adding liquid and he wants to treat theliquid, then the process returns to step 501. If the user decides thathe wants to stop treating the liquid then the process ends.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart that depicts a method of how the portable covercooling system is utilized. At block 601, a person utilizes the airtransfer mechanism 403 to pump air through the air transfer hose 203,first cover opening 204 into the container 401 (FIG. 4). This container401 includes a liquid. In another embodiment, the air transfer mechanism403 may be a typical electrical air transfer mechanism or electrical airpump. This air may be pumped into the container 401 manually by pressingair transfer mechanism 403 or electronically pumped at any rate, forexample it may be transferred into the container at rate ofapproximately 1 pounds square inch per second. In yet another embodimentof the invention, a person may tilt the container 401 by 30 to 50degrees to force the liquid from the container 401 into the holding well211 where it can be treated.

At block 603, as the air is transferred through the air transfer hose203 into the container 401 the air forces the liquid at block 605through liquid transfer hose 205 into the holding well 211. At block607, the liquid at the holding well 211 will be treated or managed inseveral ways. First, a person who has transferred or pumped the air intocontainer 401 to force the liquid into the holding well 211 can open ortake off the cover 200 to blow on the liquid to cool it. For example,the person may turn the knob 209 in a clockwise or counter-clockwisedirection to retract or expand slideable flap 215, slideable flap 217and slideable flap 219 so the person can open cover 200 to show theliquid in the holding well 211, which the person can blow on to cool theliquid. In another embodiment of the invention, holding well 211 mayinclude a treating structure 213. This treating structure 213 may beutilized to cool the liquid or it can be utilized to heat the liquid.For example, the treating structure 213 may include a typicalrefrigerator tray that cools the liquid in the holding well 211. On theother hand, the treating structure 213 may include a heating tray thatwarms the liquid in the holding well 211.

At block 609, the user determines if he wants to keep adding more liquidinto the holding well 211 to be treated as stated above. If the userdecides that he wants to keep adding liquid and he wants to treat theliquid, then the process returns to step 601. If the user decides thathe wants to stop treating the liquid then the process ends.

This invention provides a user with a simple means to manually orelectronically cool or warm up a liquid in a container. The user is ableto pump air into the container holding the liquid to force the air intoa holding well where the user can treat a small amount of fluid bycooling it or heating it up to quickly treat this liquid. By treatingsmall amounts of liquid the user can quickly and more readily cool orheat the liquid, then enjoy the liquid without being mistakenly burnedor otherwise injured by the liquid.

It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded asillustrative rather than limiting and that it be understood that it isthe following claims, including all equivalents, which are intended todefine the scope of the invention.

1. A cup cooling system comprising: an outer housing defining a chamberfor holding an inner housing configured to store liquid; the innerhousing including: a first opening configured to receive air transferredinto the inner housing; a second opening configured to transfer theliquid in the inner housing to a holding well responsive to the airtransferred into the inner housing; and the holding well configured tohold the liquid while the liquid is being treated.
 2. The cup coolingsystem of claim 1, wherein the liquid is transferred from the innerhousing into a holding well by a liquid transfer hose.
 3. The cupcooling system of claim 1, wherein the holding well includes a coolingarea configured to cool the liquid.
 4. The cup cooling system of claim1, wherein the holding well includes a heated area configured to heatthe liquid.
 5. The cup cooling system of claim 1, wherein the outsidehousing includes an air transfer mechanism.
 6. The cup cooling system ofclaim 5, wherein the air transfer mechanism is configured to transferair into the first opening of the inner housing.
 7. The cup coolingsystem of claim 1, wherein the holding well is located on a top portionof the inner housing.
 8. The cup cooling system of claim 7, furthercomprising a cover encapsulating the inner housing and the outerhousing.
 9. The cup cooling system of claim 2, wherein the liquidtransfer hose is located in between the inner housing and the outerhousing.
 10. An apparatus comprising: an inner housing, wherein theinner housing is configured to hold a liquid; wherein the inner housingincludes: a first opening configured to receive air transferred into theinner housing; a second opening configured to transfer the liquid in theinner housing to a holding well responsive to the air transferred to theinner housing; and the holding well configured to hold the liquid whilethe liquid is being treated.
 11. A cover comprising: an air transfermechanism configured to transfer air; an air transfer hose coupled tothe air transfer mechanism wherein the air transfer house is configuredto transfer the air from the air transfer mechanism into a containerhaving a liquid; a liquid transfer hose located inside the container,wherein the liquid transfer hose is configured to transfer the liquidfrom the container to a holding well in response to the air beingtransferred into the container; and wherein the holding well isconfigured to treat the liquid.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe air transfer mechanism is a pump.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the air transfer hose is made of a flexible rubber.